Page 160 of Bona Fide

“I told you not to come with me.”

“And watch you fire everyone—” She crosses her arms. “—yeah, right.”

“What do you think she’s looking for then, Em? Demi wouldn't know anything about a bill or a trade agreement even if it hit her in the ass.” She averts her gaze from me, contemplating something going on in her head.

I’ve known her long enough to know all the facial expressions, her body language, Em and I would be an ideal fit if fucking someone like your sister appealed to me.

“What’s up, Em?”

“You received another video, didn’t you?”

The fuck.

My hands ball into fists because that was off my personal laptop and how in the hell would she know that?

“From?” Em slowly trails her gaze back to me and no longer does she look as worried, she looks absolutely petrified.

She hits me dead-on with her stare. “Say the word.”

“What word?”

“The word, Wade. The one you were told to use when you needed something taken care of. Where no questions would be asked. That your decisions and judgment would always be top priority.”

I frown. Em is losing her shit.

“Sit down,” I order, striding towards the phone on my desk.

I need to order her something to eat. Her blood pressure must be down or she’s suffering from being sleep deprived.

I need to really start cracking down on her to take care of herself and maybe start shoving Bahama pamphlets in her hands.

She needs a break.

I need her to be healthy. I can’t run this shit without her when my world is just smoking debris of shit I’ve lost.

“Blue,” Em mutters. “It was the only word I knew you’d remember.”

I shake hands with Heidi, standing in front of the Capitol Building with tens of thousands of people cheering because I’ve just been sworn into office for president.

It’s deafening, but the sun is out on a day that I pictured differently in my head.

It went from Demi standing at my side, still madly in love with her with a child or two standing in front of us.

Then it became Reagan, dressed in blue—my favorite fucking color—and patiently waiting for me to do my pleasantries before I pulled her into the nearest dark corner to have every way with her.

Instead, my first dream is the reality. Demi does stand at my side, but I’m madly appalled by her. I don’t want children with the bitch, and I want to watch her plummet from where I’ve gotten us with a bowl of popcorn and a tumbler of whiskey.

“Congratulations, Mr. President,” Heidi beams with a smile. “You’re going to do great.”

I smile, half of it genuine. “Thank you. If I don’t, half of it is your fault.” I wink at her, and she chuckles before I move on to the next person to shake their hand.

It feels like a lifetime before a woman approaches me with red hair, hazel eyes, and a slim figure. She must be a senator or something, but I’ve never seen her before.

“All the congratulations in the world to you, Mr. Lockwood,” she offers, taking my hand then clasping her other over the top of it. “You’re in good hands here.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“When you’re in trouble or need something taken care of for you, remember ‘blue’.” She nods to my side, and Em shows up alongside me. “Emmy Lou will know what to do.”

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